About Us

First organized in 1992 as “Creative Services Group”, an outreach group in Southern California, JDCC expanded its mission in August 1994 when it was renamed Jewish Deaf Community Center, a non-profit organization which now receives an overwhelming number of inquiries and requests nationwide. JDCC exists exclusively for educational, religious, and charitable purposes and does not charge any membership fees.

JDCC promotes individual growth, social awareness, productivity and equality, by empowering deaf and hard of hearing persons to be full participants in the Jewish community at large. The JDCC Board of Directors is composed of persons who are Deaf and hard of hearing. JDCC relies on grants, subsidized program revenues and contributions to underwrite all its program activities.

We invite Rabbis from different Judaism branches. We accept and respect all Jewish deaf people regardless of which branch of Judaism, whether it is Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist. JDCC also assists in bris and funerals when requested. JDCC is not associated with the Jewish Community Center in any way.

In the past, JDCC hosted numerous programming and social events including lecture series, international kosher dinners, and community services including Havurah for singles, teens, and families. Cultural activities have involved tours to the Museum of Tolerance and My Jewish Discovery Museum. JDCC also provided religious programming through High Holidays services in American Sign Language as well as Passover Community Seder.

Jewish Deaf News Resources Now On the Internet
Finding that the primary means of keeping Jewish deaf people in touch with Judaism and JDCC activities was through the JDCC News, a publication reporting on the Jewish Deaf community that JDCC printed and distributed six times a year throughout the United States and abroad, JDCC decided to go ‘high-tech’ in 2008.

In June 2008, in responding to changes in the Jewish Deaf community and keeping up with trends as result of technology advancements and behavior, “JDCC News”, transitioned to the internet.

“Instead of waiting to receive a printed newsletter in the mail every other month, you can now go to the JDCC News website any time,” says Sharon Ann Dror, JDCC president, “News stories are posted to the website every month, and we send a monthly digest listing all new stories to the JDCC News email list.”

The “JDCC News” is the organization’s primary means of communication and by providing information on its programs. “In addition to continuing news coverage, feature articles and reports on activities and gatherings on the website, we are excited to continue and even expand the popular “News from around the World” feature on the JDCC News website,” Dror added.

The new “JDCC News” website now allows people to sign up to receive recap of new features and announcements posted to the website on a regular basis. Interested individuals can also sign up to receive “JDCC News Alerts”. Valuable archival content is now available with search capability and access to all news reports going back to its first issue, back in September 1992.

Funding from the Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation, a long-time benefactor underwriting distribution of the original “JDCC News” publication, supported costs of developing and launching the new “JDCC News” website.